[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 182 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 182

  Recognizing the historical significance of the Triangle Fire in the 
  struggle to improve worker safety standards and protections on the 
                     100th anniversary of the fire.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2011

   Mr. Nadler (for himself, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. King of New York, Mr. 
 Rangel, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Engel, Mr. Israel, Mr. Meeks, 
  Mr. Serrano, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Owens, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Berman, Mr. 
  Payne, Mr. Sires, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. George Miller of 
California, Mr. Olver, Ms. Wilson of Florida, and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                     on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the historical significance of the Triangle Fire in the 
  struggle to improve worker safety standards and protections on the 
                     100th anniversary of the fire.

Whereas, on March 25, 1911, a fire, commonly referred to as the Triangle Fire, 
        broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory;
Whereas the factory was located on the top floors of the Asch Building on the 
        corner of Greene Street and Washington Place in New York City;
Whereas fire inspections and precautions proved woefully inadequate;
Whereas the fire swept through the factory in under a half hour;
Whereas employees were unprepared for the fire because the Triangle Shirtwaist 
        Company did not conduct fire drills and locked doors hindered the 
        evacuation;
Whereas 146 of the 600 factory employees died in the fire;
Whereas the factory conditions had also been deplorable, and included poor 
        sanitation and overcrowding;
Whereas the victims were predominantly European Jewish and Italian immigrants 
        who had recently emigrated with their families to the United States in 
        search of a better life;
Whereas in the wake of the Triangle Fire tragedy, people throughout the Nation 
        demanded restitution, justice, and action to safeguard the vulnerable 
        and oppressed;
Whereas the Triangle Fire sparked massive protests by people angry at the 
        indifference and greed that led to the Triangle Fire tragedy;
Whereas over the next 20 years, there was a substantial effort to alleviate the 
        most dangerous aspects of sweatshop manufacturing in New York and 
        throughout the Nation;
Whereas the labor movement and progressive organizations fought a long and 
        difficult battle to secure a right to safe and decent working conditions 
        in factories;
Whereas, on February 17, 2001, the last survivor of the Triangle Fire, Rose 
        Freedman, passed away at the age of 107;
Whereas although the public outrage resulting from the Triangle Fire eventually 
        subsided, the Triangle Fire and its victims were not forgotten;
Whereas the Triangle Fire raised awareness of the many difficult conditions 
        endured by factory workers and paved the way for worker protection laws; 
        and
Whereas March 25, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Fire: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the historical significance of the fire that 
        occurred on March 25, 1911, at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company 
        factory, commonly referred to as the Triangle Fire, in the 
        struggle to improve worker safety standards and protections;
            (2) honors the victims of the Triangle Fire; and
            (3) commends all the government agencies, labor unions, and 
        industry groups that attempted to aid the victims of the 
        Triangle Fire and played instrumental roles in facilitating 
        lasting improvement in worker safety standards and protections.
                                 <all>